Corneal wound healing strength with topical antiinflammatory drugs.

The objective of this study was to compare the force required to separate corneal wounds after topical applications of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or corticosteroids. Bilateral central 8-mm long corneal full-thickness incisions in 50 NZW rabbits were closed with five interrupted 10-0 nylon sutures. There were four paired-eye groups: (a) control/control, (b) control/diclofenac sodium (0.1%), (c) control/flurbiprofen sodium (0.03%), and (d) control/prednisolone acetate (1%) treated six times per day for 7 or 21 days. The wound strength was measured by determining the force necessary to separate the incision along its length. The eyes did not differ statistically from their contralateral eye for each group except control/diclofenac (7.98 g/12.32 g) and control/flurbiprofen (6.96 g/11.67 g) at 21 days. The strongest scars occurred after treatment with diclofenac and flurbiprofen, which were similar (p = 0.74). The weakest wounds for each time period were with prednisolone (1.74 g/3.21 g). The diclofenac and flurbiprofen were stronger than prednisolone-treated eyes at 7 days (p = 0.028 and p = 0.023, respectively) and at 21 days (p < 0.001). The bilateral controls were stronger than the prednisolone controls (p = 0.008 at 7 days and p = 0.001 at 21 days). Steroid treatment caused weaker corneal wound scars than did the NSAIDs. Unilateral steroid treatment adversely affected their untreated contralateral eyes. The NSAID-treated wounds were the strongest and stronger than their contralateral control eyes.

Noninvasive measurement of corneal epithelial permeability.

The Fluorotron Master fluorophotometer was used to measure the corneal epithelial permeability to carboxyfluorescein in the normal unanesthetized rabbit. This was related to the epithelial fluorescein staining grade as assessed with a slit lamp. The carboxyfluorescein concentration in the cornea was measured at 3, 60 and 120 min after bathing the cornea in 2.7 x 10(-3) M carboxyfluorescein for 5 min. The epithelial cell layer permeability was calculated from the corneal carboxyfluorescein concentration immediately after a balanced salt solution rinse (initial technique) and from the time zero intercept value extrapolated from the 60 and 120 min data (intercept technique). The slit lamp demonstrated 69% of the nonpaired rabbit eyes were free of epithelial defects, whereas, 46% of the paired rabbit eyes were free of defects. Epithelial permeability values determined from the initial or intercept technique were similar (p = 0.77, unpaired 2 tailed t-test for data < 0.165 nm/s). The initial analysis permeability values ranged from 0.0154 to 4.309 nm/s., n = 29 There was a Gaussian distribution of data between 0.015 and 0.144 nm/s with a mean of 0.0646 +/- 0.0070 nm/s. The larger values correlated with the naturally occurring epithelial defects observed with the slit lamp. The epithelial permeability values were independent of the contralateral eye or subsequent day measurements.

Effect of diclofenac on corneal haze after photorefractive keratectomy in rabbits.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the ability of topical diclofenac to decrease corneal opacity after excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). METHODS: Twenty New Zealand white rabbits underwent a unilateral 193-nm excimer laser myopic photorefractive keratectomy to correct 5 diopters. There were four groups of five rabbits each. The first group of rabbits received postoperative topical treatment with placebo (Voltaren Ophthalmic vehicle), the second group received topical 0.1% diclofenac, the third group received topical corticosteroid (0.1% fluorometholone), and the fourth group received diclofenac and fluorometholone. In the first month, the topical drugs were applied four times daily, and in the second month twice daily. Corneal haze was graded from 0 (totally clear) to 4 (completely opaque cornea). Slit-lamp pictures were obtained at weeks 2, 4, and 8, and keratometry readings was performed at weeks 4 and 8. At week 8, the rabbits were killed, and the eyes were submitted for histologic examination. RESULTS: At week 8, there was less corneal haze in the diclofenac-treated animals and in the fluorometholone-treated animals than in the control group, but only in the diclofenac-treated group was the difference statistically significant. Combination treatment with diclofenac and fluorometholone did not result in a further decrease in haze. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that diclofenac and fluorometholone may influence corneal wound healing in rabbits after excimer laser PRK and support a potential role for using topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in preventing the development of excessive corneal haze after excimer laser surgery.

Estudo experimental da eficácia clínica e microbiológica da associaçäo do diclofenaco sódico e sulfato de gentamicina no tratamento da ceratite por Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Clinical and microbiological effect of sodium diclofenac on gentamicin treatment of experimental Pseudomonas aeruginosa keratitis

Objetivo comparar o efeito da associaçäo de diclofenaco sódico 0,1 ppor cento, mais sulfato de gentamicina 0,3 por cento em olhos de coelhos infectados por meio de injeçäo intra-estromal de Pseudomonas aeruginosa, após remoçäo do epitélio da regiäo central da córnea. Métodos: os animais foram tratados com soluçöes tópicas contendo diferentes drogas. Grupo I: associaçäo de diclofenaco sódico 0,1 por cento, mais sulfato de gentamicina 0,3 por cento. Grupo II: veículo da associaçäo de diclofenaco sódico 0,1 por cento, mais sulfato de gentamicina 0,3 por cento. Grupo III: apenas diclofenaco sódico 0,1 por cento. Grupo IV: sulfato de gentamicina 0,3 poe cento isoladamente. Grupo V: BSS. Grupo VI: näo recebeu nenhuma medicaçäo. Os animais do grupo VI foram sacrificados no primeiro dia ..